(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - A new study from a psychiatrist at the Stanford University School of Medicine says that environmental factors may play more of a role in the risk for causing autism than genetic factors.

Dr. Joachim Hallmayer reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry that environment factors may account for an influence of 55% of the risk for autism.

Craig Erickson, Chief of the Riley Hospital for Children Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center says the results of the study are a bit confusing.

Erickson says three decades of research shouldn't be thrown out by one report.

He says the report proves that there is much more work to be done in the study of what causes autism.

Erickson adds one thing not to do is be alarmed at the results of the study.

He says more studies need to be done to continue to prove what causes autism.